The Canadian Press
It’s been two and a half months since the Calgary Stampeders won 60-1 over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. While the Stamps still haven’t lost since, the Ticats are a whole new team ever since June Jones took over.
While most of us can agree that a repeat performance isn’t likely, can the Ticats pull off the upset and win outright? With their playoff hopes in the balance, CFL.ca’s Jamie Nye makes his predictions for that game as well as the others.
CFL Pick ‘Em is back in 2017 with more than $130,000 in combined cash and prizes are up for grabs*. Pick 30 in a row, win $30,000; pick 40, win $40,000; think you can pick 50 straight? You’re looking at $50,000. *View rules regarding streaks and prizing.
Without further delay, Nye makes his Week 17 picks:
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Calgary at Hamilton
Friday | 7:00 p.m. ET
Jeremiah Masoli and the Ticats control their own playoff destiny going into Week 17 (David Chidley/CFL.ca)
This is the most intriguing matchup for me as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats looked good against the second-best team in the West in a victory over Winnipeg last week. Now they host the Calgary Stampeders, who are coming off a bye and almost have first place wrapped up in their division.
The Ticats have much more to play for with their playoff lives on the line and a desperate team is tough to play as the Bombers found out last week.
Can June Jones get that offence rolling against the best defence in the Canadian Football League? That’s the biggest question for me before I pick an upset in this one. With the speed the Tiger-Cats have added to the offence, I think they can, but Jeremiah Masoli has to be mistake-free.
To heck with it, I have to catch up anyway.
PICK: HAMILTON (10% confidence)
Ottawa at Saskatchewan
Friday | 10:00 p.m. ET
Despite his recent struggles, Kevin Glenn gets the start this week for the Riders (The Canadian Press)
Just two weeks ago, William Powell ate up the Riders defence in the first three quarters. The Riders defence finally figured it out and left the ball in Ryan Lindley‘s hand to beat them and he couldn’t do it.
Now Trevor Harris is back at quarterback and the REDBLACKS are coming off an emotional win over the BC Lions.
The Riders found a spark in Brandon Bridge last week, but Head Coach Chris Jones is going back to his No. 1 in Kevin Glenn. The veteran pivot has something to prove this week and so too does the Riders defence. They won’t allow Powell anywhere close to 185 yards of rushing and the Riders are at home, which has been a big advantage to them this season.
PICK: SASKATCHEWAN (60% confidence)
BC at Winnipeg
Saturday |4:00 p.m. ET
While Matt Nichols will play, how will he be affected by his recent hand injury? (BlueBombers.com)
The big question in this game is how well can Matt Nichols throw the football with an injured finger on his throwing hand. We’ve seen Kevin Glenn’s production drop since bruising his hand and I’m worried the same may happen to Nichols and the Bombers’ offence.
The advantage is they have Andrew Harris coming out of the backfield and short dump offs to Harris could be the answer if Nichols has trouble going down field to Darvin Adams and his other weapons.
BC is now in desperation mode as blowing the lead to Ottawa last week has the Lions out of the playoff picture in the fight for third and the crossover spot. Halfway through last week’s game I felt that we were seeing the Lions turn a corner but the game was much like their season: A great first half, bad second.
I think they’ll be in this one and could pull out a surprise but only if they can maintain their play through the entire game.
PICK: B.C. (0% confidence)
Toronto at Edmonton
Saturday | 7:00 p.m. ET
Ricky Ray looks for his third straight 300-yard game vs. the Eskimos this week (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
The Toronto Argonauts come into the game after last week’s loss to Saskatchewan. They also suffered some injuries, none bigger than James Wilder Jr., though they do have Chris Van Zeyl back on the offensive line and Bear Woods appears good to go after chest problems left him unable to play against the Riders.
The Argos can’t afford much of a drop off from the run game as Wilder has added a great balance to the offence. If Wilder doesn’t play, Ray may be pressed to drop back much more than he’s needed to lately.
Edmonton beat Montreal in the rain but Head Coach Jason Maas still wasn’t impressed with the offence and made the change at quarterback, as well as Mike Reilly being banged up. Did their win prove they’re out of their slump? I didn’t see that yet.
Their defence clearly has holes and if there is going to be a quarterback to pick those apart, it would be Ray.
PICK: TORONTO (33% confidence)
